Independent Support

Independent Support is a service provided by Darlington Association on Disability and the Information Advice and Support Service for SEND (formerly Parent Partnership Service), funded by the Council for Disabled Children

Independent Support provides support for parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), and young people with SEN, through the coordinated assessment and Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes introduced on the 1st September 2014 by the Children and Families Act 2014.

Some of the key features of the new SEN framework include:

• Education Health and Care (EHC) Plans to replace Statements of Special Educational Needs and Learning Difficulty Assessment for children and young people aged 0-25
• New rights for families to participate in the assessment and planning process
• The opportunity to access a Personal Budget
• Information on services and sources of support to be published in a ‘Local Offer’

Independent Support is provided through a telephone service, trained peer supporters, and qualified Independent Supporters.

Parents and young people up the age of 25 can access the service for information and support on:

• Education, Health and Care Plans
• Transfer Reviews (moving from a Statement or LDA to an EHC Plan)
• Requesting an co-ordinated Education Health and Care needs assessment
• Personal Budgets
• Services and support available in Darlington for families of children with Special Educational Needs and disabled children

If there is a need for on-going support, an Independent Supporter will be allocated until the Education, Health and Care Plan is finalised.

An Independent Supporter may be needed to support parents, children and young people to:

• Understand and navigate the assessment and planning process
• Participate in the assessment and planning process, for example putting your views across in meetings or to be involved in making decisions about support
• Utilise a Personal Budget
• Liaise with professionals

Preparing for Adulthood

As of September 2014, when the Children and Families Act 2014 was introduced, new duties were put in place to ensure that Preparing for Adulthood outcomes focus on person-centred reviews from year 9 onwards.

The Preparing for Adulthood outcomes are based on what disabled young people say is important to them. Ultimately young people want to have full lives with choices about their future and control of their support.

Preparing for Adulthood works with the Department for Education and its partners to ensure that young people with SEND achieve the following - paid employment, independent living and housing options, good health, friendships, relationships and community inclusion as they move into adulthood.

Disability Horizons is useful disability related magazine with articles and resources to help people with disabilities achieve whatever they wish. The magazine and website includes articles, resources and links about travel, work, art and culture, relationships and much more.

Other Useful Links

Every local authority must publish a Local Offer. The Local Offer tells you what support the local authority expects to be available for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities. It must include information about education, health and care provision. It should also tell you about training, employment and independent living for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Independent Parental Special Education Advice (known as IPSEA) is a registered charity offering free independent legally based information, advice and supportto help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities.